PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development & Education)

Language training English
Type of event Classroom/In person
Open to whom? Futur poster parents
Important Information 27 hours training

General information

Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education

The PRIDE Pre-service training program will give you an excellent beginning in understanding the skills, knowledge and commitments that foster care and adoption in Ontario requires.

Schedule

  • Thursday, October 24 (9 am to 4 pm) - Sessions 1 & 2
  • Saturday, October 26 (9 am to 4 pm) - Sessions 3 & 4
  • Thursday, November 7 (6 pm to 9 pm) - Session 5
  • Saturday, November 9 (9 am to 4 pm) - Sessions 6 & 7
  • Thursday, November 14 (6 pm to 9 pm) - Session 8
  • Thursday, November 21 (6 pm to 9 pm) - Session 9

 Synopsis of all 9 sessions:

Session One: Connecting with PRIDE

Session One welcomes applicants to PRIDE. Applicants will learn how the training program integrates with the process of assessing resource families using the SAFE tools. Session One describes the knowledge and skills (known as "competencies") that resource families need to fulfill their important roles in caring for children and youth in through resource parenting. The various pieces of legislation that govern and mandate foster, kinship, customary care and adoption services are explained. Session One also acquaints applicants with several regular features of PRIDE. These include: PRIDE Connections (linking classroom learning with life experiences); Making a Difference! (stories from Ontario families illustrating the rewards of resource parenting); Key Points (a summary of important information discussed in each session); You Need to Know! (lessons to study at home); and A Birth Parent’s Perspective (stories and letters from parents to help you understand the families of children and youth in care). Applicants will view a video that dramatically portrays the experiences of resource parenting and will learn how children, youth and families are referred for these services. By the end of Session One, applicants will know much more about the rewards and challenges of resource parenting.

Session Two: Teamwork Towards Permanence

Why are family relationships so important to growing children and youth? Session Two examines this question and explores ways in which families support a child or youth's identity, cultural heritage and self-esteem. In this session, applicants will learn the value of permanence in the lives of children and youth and how agencies seek to achieve this goal for all children and youth. This session presents tasks that resource parents need to accomplish to keep children and youth connected to important family and community relationships. Applicants will learn why teamwork is necessary to promote permanence for children and youth and will discover the unique role of resource parents as members of a professional team focused on meeting the needs of children and youth.

Session Three: Meeting Developmental Needs: Attachment

This session reviews the "basics" of child growth and development, with an emphasis on the importance of a child or youth’s need for a sense of belonging. Applicants will consider how important it is for children and youth to form deep and lasting attachments as well as the impact of positive day-to-day parenting on a child or youth’s growth and development. This session introduces the Ontario Looking After Children model for identifying children and youth’s strengths and needs as well as affirming the importance of believing in resiliency and a child or youth’s capacity to succeed in life. Applicants will learn about child maltreatment, neglect and child institutionalization; and about their impact on attachments, development and behaviour. Ways in which resource parents build positive attachments with children and youth are explored.

Session Four: Meeting Developmental Needs: Loss

When children and youth are separated from their family, community and culture, an overwhelming sense of loss may impede growth and development. In this session, applicants will learn the types of losses experienced by children and youth who require out-of-home care and their impact on how a child or youth feels and behaves. “Pathways through the grieving process” is discussed as a framework for addressing loss issues. Loss is presented as something everyone must face. Applicants will have a chance to consider their own response to losses in their lives. Based on this, they will discuss how they might respond to losses that come with resource parenting and how they can help children and youth cope with their losses.

Session Five: Strengthening Family Relationships

This session focuses on how families instill identity, cultural heritage, and self-esteem in children and youth. Applicants will review the child welfare goal of returning children and youth in resource care to their families of origin whenever possible. In discussing this concept, applicants will consider how the team can support this goal, known as "reunification." One way to strengthen family relationships is by supporting contacts between children and youth in resource care and their family members. Session Five discusses the resource parent’s role in family visitation and how to respond to a child or youth’s reactions around visits. Family ties are also discussed as important to adopted children and youth. Session Five introduces the concept of openness in adoption. This session explores how families can meet an adopted child or youth's lifelong need for identity and self-esteem.

Session Six: Continuing Family Relationships

In this session, applicants will examine different ways to help connect children and youth to safe and nurturing relationships intended to last a lifetime. Goals for reaching permanence are discussed, beginning with efforts to support families and to unite children and youth with families, including kin, through to adoption. Session Six presents ways to provide lifelong connections to children and youth who cannot grow up in their families, including openness in adoption, planned resource care and independent living.

Session Seven: Meeting Developmental Needs: Discipline

Session Seven explores the challenge of discipline. It includes definitions of discipline and punishment and discussion about how they are different. Applicants will review the agency's policy on discipline and discuss why physical punishment is not permitted. The session covers the knowledge, skills and personal qualities adults need to instill discipline. Applicants will explore the meaning of a child or youth's behaviour and the factors that influence behaviour. The session offers effective skills practice for resource parents.

Session Eight: Planning for Change

Session Eight explores the challenge of keeping children and youth safe and feeling secure with a focus on children and youth who have been sexually abused. The session looks at how your family would be different after having a child or youth placed in your care or after adopting a child or youth. Session Eight takes a practical view of what to expect during the first hours, days and weeks of a child or youth's placement in a home. This session explores the long-range impact of placement as well. The session ends with a look at how resource families find support from other team members and professionals.

Session Nine: Making an Informed Decision

In this closing session, applicants will hear from a panel of experienced members of the child or youth’s team. Resource parents, biological parents, workers, adoptees, youth in care and family members will present their views and answer questions. Applicants will have a chance to reflect on their own growth in the knowledge and skills required for resource parenting. They will be well on their way toward a final decision about their commitment to becoming kin, customary care, foster care or adoptive parents.

Event Properties

Event Date 14 November 2019
Event End Date 14 November 2019
Location Plantagenet (Siège social de Valoris Head Office)
Attachment termes_et_conditions-terms_and_conditions.pdf
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